Amid scandal and new criticisms, BBC's news chief steps aside

The BBC's news chief and her deputy have been temporarily replaced as the British broadcaster's editorial policies come under criticism. On Saturday, the BBC's director general resigned, following a misleading report and an unreported story, both having to do with child abuse.

By
Robert Barr, Associated Press /
November 12, 2012

A general view of the BBC headquarters in London, Sunday. The head of the BBC's governing body said Sunday the broadcaster needs a radical overhaul following the resignation of its chief executive in wake of a scandal over a botched report on child sex-abuse allegations.

The BBC's news chief and her deputy have been temporarily replaced while the broadcaster deals with the fallout from coverage of a child abuse scandal that forced its director general to resign, the broadcaster said Monday.

Helen Boaden, the BBC's director of news and current affairs, and her deputy, Stephen Mitchell, have handed over their responsibilities to others for the time being "to address the lack of clarity around the editorial chain of command," the corporation said.

"Consideration is now being given to the extent to which individuals should be asked to account further for their actions and if appropriate, disciplinary action will be taken," the statement said.

The BBC, meanwhile, faced criticism for agreeing to a 450,000 pounds or $715,000 payoff — a year's salary — for George Entwistle, who resigned as director general on Saturday after a BBC news program bungled reports that powerful Britons sexually abused children.